National Nurses United

C A L I F O R N I A N U R S E M A Y 2 0 0 5 3 Contents Departments 4 News Briefs After a seminal San Francisco protest of a Schwarzenegger fundraiser, the governor backs off his plan to privatize state pensions; Scripps RNs strike for first contract; An RN explains why CNA members must write letters to the editor; CNA director Rose Ann DeMoro ranked among top 25 women in healthcare. 8 Corporate Actor Schwarzenegger may play a moderate in public, but take a close look at his policy goals and it's clear he's really a front man for Big Business. By Rose Ann DeMoro 19 Technology and Patient Advocacy Technology in medicine is every- where these days. What RNs should know is that they must exercise independent judgment at all times. Sponsored by the Joint Nursing Practice Commission and submitted by Hedy Dumpel, RN, JD Cover Story 9 More Than Bargained For This summer, an unprecedented group of 20,000 RNs will be renegotiating their contracts. By CNA Staff Features 13 Under Pressure Doctors and companies like Kaiser staff their offices and clinics with medical assistants because they're cheaper and easier to hire. But are the medical assistants taking on duties that jeopardize patient safety? By Lucia Hwang 17 Getting Organized Outgoing board member Abbie Stewart, RN believes collective action is the key to CNA's success. By Lucia Hwang May | 2005 PLEASE CONTACT US WITH YOUR STORY IDEAS They can be about practice or management trends you've observed, or simply some- thing new you've encountered in the profession. They can be about one nurse, unit, or hospital, or about the wider landscape of healthcare policy from an RN's perspective. They can be humorous, or a matter of life and death. If you're a writer and would like to contribute an article, please let us know. Our contact information is in the masthead. 9 | Bargaining Might 4 | Stalking Schwarzenegger 13 | Outpatient Crisis 17 | On Board

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